The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-10-05
pROHIBITTON-IN ASTORIA.

IL
ON prohibition in this state or the Sth
of next month increases as the day
draws near. 1t seems scarcely posi-
bile that a majority of the voters of
this state will vote in favor of so Wis
ionary and impracticable q PROPOSE
ton. As q theory, a hypothesis, a
supposition, the idea Of attempting
prohibition is worthy of the same de-
gree of notice accorded other chime
ras; but to suppose that the idea can
ever be put into practicable working
shape is to suppose the impossible.
Waving any general discussion of
the sentimental considerations in
yolved in the proposition, brief edito-
rial attention is diverted to one local
aspect of the matter.
In '86-an average year-the cash
receipts of this city were S24,225.S8:
the disbursements, S27 ,34470. The
receipts were not as much as the needs
of the city required. In that year
there was the usual growl about high
taxes. OF the APPS received, 1855
was received from liquor licenses, etc.
If the license system did not obtain,
this $1,000 or $4,000 would be cut of.
But the expenses wouldn't: they would
90 right on just the same. The only
way TO collect the deficit would be to
increase the taxes. Just how that
would suit the taxpayers is for the
taxpayers themselves to decide when
they vote on prohibition. If they
want to pay more taxes and make up
the amount needed for the necessary
expenses of the government of the
city without counting in the money
from licenses. they will, of course, vote
for prohibition. IL they think that
the liquor traffic ought to be made pay
good share of the expense, they will
vote otherwise. In either case they
will do just as they please, which is
one of the proudest privileges of an
American citizen.
There are people in Astoria who think
that taxes here are high enough now.
What with rents, insurance, taxes,
ETC., it seems as though business men
have all piled onto them now that they
can stand.
But if the receipts from the liquor
licenses are to be done away with, OF
course those of us who have to pay
for the city government anyhow must
dig up" the extra amount required.
Either that or go out OF the business
Of being a city and go back to the clam
epoch.
There is no extravaganza in the city
government, except in the matter OF
police; no possibility of much re-
trenchment in any other department,
unless We desire to have prohibition
at any cost and cut the ground from
under our feet.
In 'S6 the fire department cost 81,
500; the streets S2,SO2; interest on
bonds, S2,627; lighting the city s.
378; city officers, S9,5O4; the ceme-
tery, $60S, and so on. If we think
such luxuries as streets and lights,
and fire department, ETC., are too
much for Astorians to enjoy without
the real estate of the city being taxed
to death for their maintenance, by all
means let us have prohibition.
But the liquor will be drank just
the same, whether the state goes wet
or dry. There is no getting away
from that. Seventeen prohibition
laws wouldn't stop it. The question
for taxpayers to consider is whethe
they want to pay all the expenses o
our city government or make the hq
uor traffic pay at least one-third o.
what it annually costs to run this
city.
1t is the old question of theor,
versus practice; of actual, every day
life vs., what might be if.the Almighty
had arranged things differently and
denied free will to man. Prohibition
is splendid ideal; so is free trade;
so is universal fatherhood of God and
brotherhood of man; so is universal
peace; so is the millennium; but whe1
we all have reached that pinnacle o
perfection when those ideals can b.
put into living, breathing, actual life
We will have no need for fire depart
ments, nor streets, nor lights, nor po
lice, and won't care a continental
whether taxes in Astoria are three
mills or thirty three.
EVERYONE has heard of Cfeorpf